Where High-Tech Meets Spa Comfort

On the surface, the most recent eyewear boutique to open its doors in the Chestnut Hill Shopping Center of Chestnut Hill, Mass., looks like a sleek day spa. But behind its fashionable dispensary layout, EyeSpot is combining trendy eyewear with state-of-art medical technology.

A view inside the EyeSpot practice.

The practice is the brainchild of brothers Jorge Arroyo, an ophthalmologist, and Michael Arroyo, a certified ophthalmic technician and optician. The idea came two years ago when both were working at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). “We wanted to establish an optical dispensary to serve the needs of the BIDMC patients in the community,” said Michael Arroyo, one of EyeSpot’s owners.

Of the newly-opened practice, Michael Arroyo added: ‘We really care about our patients and customers and worked to create a very pleasant, unique destination for them.” With their new business, the two are looking to provide an updated experience in optical care.

Here, optical and medical are evenly divided. With just four full-time staffers, visitors can meet with an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam, have an ophthalmologist review the resulting diagnostic scans and then be fitted for new eyeglasses by an optician—a process Michael Arroyo calls “the three O’s working together to provide the best care for our patients.”

To aid in this, the Arroyos created a combination of tests using OCT and EPIC technology called EyeSpot Complete Eye Scan. “Ophthalmologists are now referring patients to have their scans done here. And everyone who comes through gets one. We’re interested in being very thorough,” Michael Arroyo said.

Employing retail designer Carlos Salib in the construction, the brothers had the idea of a comfortable, high-tech atmosphere. Both wanted a spa element to optimize the patient’s comfort level and a polished interior that resembled an Apple store.

With its rounded edge displays, crystal light fixtures and Lucite chairs, EyeSpot resembles a sophisticated clothing shop. In the middle of the 1,400 square foot location are two dispensing lanes and a 60-foot wall of frames from brands like Boucheron, Fred, götti Switzerland and Zero G.

But the EyeSpot’s most spa-like feature sits directly behind the front desk. The “vision wall” is a 96-inch screen that displays “relaxing” nature scenes. “I think when the patient is at ease, we’re able to help them better and in a more effective way,” Michael Arroyo said.
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